Eletric cut-out.



No. 831,226. PATBNTED SEPT. 18,1906.

P. B. HINKSON.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED HAB.25, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFGE. FRANK-B. HINKsON,' OF NEW CAS-rits. PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC cur-OUT. I

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 18, ioc.

Application filed March 25, 1905. Serial No. 252.083.

To @ZZ whom it may conca/'rmv Be it" known that I, FRANK B. HrNKsoN,

, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at New Castle, in the count of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, ave invented new and usefulv Improvements in Electric Cut- Outs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvementin electric cut-outs and circuit-makers designed an control The particularly constructed to be d ywater-pres'sure. vention is particularly designed for use in connection with water systems, such y said circuit when.the ilow as, the ordinary house system arranged to contain an electric purifier or filter, in which it is desirable `to energize the filter only during the passage of water therethrough. v

The main ob'ect of the invention is to energize the puri er-cireuit during the assage of water in any quantity whatever t ough the filter and to automatically denergize the filter has been cut ei.

To this end the invention, broadly stated, consists in a valve controlling the admission of water to the lter-su ply pipe and adapted upon operation to c ose the filter-circuit and'to automatically break said circuit by the closing operation of the valve.

The preferred embodiment of details of the invention will be described in the following speciiication, `with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whieh- Figure 1 isa view in elevation illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the'device, the sliding contacts and binding-posts being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 an enlarged vertical section through one of the binding-posts,. illustrating the sliding connection therewith of the movable contact.

particularly to the drawings, whereinv ii.. reference-numerals indicate li (e parts throughout the several views, 1 re resent-s a T-coupling, the branch 2 of whic is designed to be connected to the house or other main, while the branch 3 is connected to the iilter service-pipe, it being understood that the latter pipe is the house service-pipe and that the Filter or purifier is connected in this pipe to purify all water to be utilized in the house. The branch 4 of the coupling in alinement with branch 2 is somewhat longer than the latter branch and is adapted to serve as a h\'w1si`.i1gy for the valve-spring, as hereinof water through after described.I Tlfe free end of this branch is closed by a cap 5, having a reduced tubu lar.projection 6, the free end of which is closed by a cap 7, between which and the end of projection 6 a suitable packing-ring 8 is introduced. An arm 9 is formed integral with theprojection 6,extending downward therefrom "a short distance and then at right angles parallel with the branches 2 and 4 of the coupling to provide a support 10, on which is fixed a suitable insulating-base 11.

A barrel-valveA 12 is mounted for reciprocation within the coupling, o ening toward the branch 2 and normally c osing the passage between the branches 2 and 3. From the closed end of the valve proper projects a stem 13 which extends throug and beyond the cap 7, as shown.` Between the closed end of the valve and the shoulder formed by the junction of the projection 6 and the head of cap 5 is arranged a spring 14, encircling the va ve-stem and operative to maintain the valve 12 normally in closed position.

15 represents the binding-posts, to which are connected the termina s 16 of the purier-circuit- These osts arefixedly supported by the insulated ase 11 and are arranged in alinement with the valve-stem 13. Each est is formed with a transverse .opening 17, in which is slidably mounted what I term a movable contact" 18. The ends of the contacts remote from the coupling are formed with enlargements 19,' and the openings 17 within the binding-posts are of a size to permit passage of these enlarged ends of the contact. A screw 2Q, vertically threaded in the binding-post, rejects within the opening 17 to prevent wit drawal of the contact, as will be evident. The op osite ends of the contacts are provided wit circular heads 21 and encircling the shank of each contact and bearing between the head 21- and the respective binding-V ost'with a spring 22, operative to maintain t e Contact at the extreme of its movement toward the coupling. The contact 18 contiguous thevalve-stem 13 is connected directly to said stem through the medium of an insulated connection 23, whereby said contact is positively operated by` the valve-stem. .A

The operation of the improved eut-out' is as follows: As long as the pressure in the main and house service-pipes is static the spring 14 will operate to maintain the valve 12 in closed position, and thereby hold the movable contacts separated and the purifier- ICO circuit broken, When, however, the force beyond the valve is changed to a dynamic force by the openinU of any faucet or vent in the house-service, t e valveis moved to establish communication between the mainl and serviceipes. This movement of the valve throug its stem 13 and against the tension of spring 14 forces the contact 21 connected with the valve-stem against the remaining contact 21, and thereby closes the circuit and energizes the purifier. It is to be noted that in normal position ofthe parts the projection of the closing wall ofA valve 12 beyond the branch 3 of the coupling is slightly greater than the distance between the adjacent ends of the contacts 21, with the effect to energize the purifier-circuit and start the effective operation of the purifier before any `flow of water occurs. This insures the puriication of all water passing through the service-pi e. When the flow of water has been cut o at the faucet or vent, the force within the coupling becomes again static, so that the pressure upon the valve is equal from the service-pipe and main, and the spring 14 o eratesl to close the valve and disengage tie contacts breaking the purifier-circuit.

The sliding lcontacts are a material feature of the present invention, as they rovide for maintaining the closed circuit un er varying volumes of water flowing from' the vent, it being noted that the contacts engage to close the circuit just valve and wil maintain this epgagement during the complete opening movement of the valve or in any position of the valve in establishing communication between the mainand house service-pi es. By this construction the operation` o the device is eective whether the valve is but slightly opened by a slight vent in the house-service or is fuily opened by one or more complete vents'.i It is further desirable to limit the closing movement of the valve 12 in order to insure its effective operation, and I contemplate the use of any convenient construction to this end. However, for the'pur oses of the present invention I prefer to imit the closing movement of the valve by ring-stop 24, se'- cured within the branch 2 of the coupling in advance of its communication with the branch 3. This stop limits the closing movement of the valve and maintains the latter in effective relation to the opening of branch 3, as will be evident.

Havin thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A water-service pipe, al valve mounted therein, said valve beingv closed when the pressure in the pi e is static and opened when the pressure becomes dynamic, an insulated base carried by the ipe, 'a pair of binding-posts secured to the base, and`nor mally separated contacts mounted upon the binding-posts for movement in the same di- 1previous to the opening ofthe rection, one of said contacts being connected -to and insulated from the valve to be moved into engagement with the other contact priorto the opening of the valve, the opening of 'from the valve to be moved into engagement with the other contact prior to the opening of the valve, the opening of the valve being per-` mitted by the movement of said other contact. Y

3. A water-service pipe, a valve mounted therein, said valve being closed when the pressure in the pi e is static and opened when the pressure becomes dynamic, a pair of binding-posts, contacts movably mounted upon the posts and normally separated, and means for retaining the contacts in their normal positions, one of said contacts being connected to 'and insulated romthe valve to be moved into engagement with the other contact prior to the openingA of the valve, the opening ofthe valve. being permitted by the movement of said other contact.' 4. An electric cut-out comprising a two-v Way coupling, a ca closing one end of the coupling and provi ed with a reduced tubular projection, a valve mounted Within the coupling and provided with a stem extending beyond said tubular projection, said valve being closed. when the pressure is static and opened when the pressure becomes dynamic,

a cap mounted upon said tubular projection, an arm carried by the tubular projection, an insulated base carried by the arm, bindingposts mounted upon theinsulated base, ccn- IIO tacts movably mounted upon the bindingposts and normally separated, one of sald" I contacts being connected to anddnsulated from the stem ofthe valve, and means for retaining the contactsin their normal positions.

5. A pipe, a valve movabletherein, and a pairof contacts movable in the same direction and normally se arated, one of said contacts normally spaced and moved into engagement upon the initial opening movement of the valve, 'both of said contacts being moved and in electrical engagement during the movement of the valve.

7. A ipe, a valve movable therein, an electrical) contact connected to and movable with the valve, and a second contact arranged in alinement with the first contact, both of said contacts being slidably mounted and adapted to be moved simultaneously in electrical engagement during the opening move- Vment of the valve.

8. A pipe, a valve movable therein, an electrical contact connected to and movable with the valve, and a second contact arran ed in alinement with the rst contact, bot of said contacts bein slidably mounted and adapted to be move simultaneously in electrical engagement during the opening movement of the valve, and independent means for returning each oi' said contacts to normal position.

9. A pipe, a valve therein7 an electrical contact connected to and movable with the valve, a second contact independently and slidably mounted, both of Said contacts being movable in the movement of the valve, one of the contacts having a movement greater than that of the other, whereby the valve is capable of a slight movement Without closing electrical connection7 and said contacts may be maintained separated when the valve is closed.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. HINKSON. Witnesses:

WM. I. EVANS, Tiros. E. Hnwirr. 

